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Barry’s School of Nursing Introduces Robotic Technology to Enhance Learning

August 29, 2018, Miami, Florida – Barry University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) opened the new academic year by introducing telepresence robots for use in classroom settings and simulation labs. Barry’s CNHS – now celebrating its 65th anniversary – is the first nursing program in Florida to use this new technology.

The three Double Robotics’ telepresence robots will give students and professors in remote locations the chance to observe lessons and procedures firsthand, in a highly interactive environment.

Instructors and guest lecturers will also have access to the robots when they are unable to teach on campus, creating more diverse and frequent educational opportunities within the program. The robots will allow students, instructors, and guest lecturers to be dynamically immersed in lessons and with one another in the classroom, mimicking in-person learning interactions.

As distance education increases in popularity, Barry University and CNHS hope to meet the demand through use of the telepresence robots, which will allow nursing programs to expand their hybrid classrooms, supporting on-campus and off-campus students with the same guidance and instruction.

“The introduction of these robots to our curriculum will bring the future into the present,” said Dr. John McFadden, CNHS Dean. “Telehealth and the use of robots in clinical practice is just beginning to make its mark. As the ever-changing landscape of health care continues to adapt to new technology, it’s important that our students enter into the nursing field well-equipped and immediately qualified to address the challenges of the industry. This is one of the many ways we are preparing them to do just that.”

Barry’s purchase of the robots was made possible through a gift from the Florida Blue Foundation.